Automatically-stabilized supporting-plane for aeroplanes and the like.



P. O. DETABLE. AUTOMATICALLY STABILIZED SUPPORTING PLANE FOR AEROPLANBS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 23, 1910.

1 ,024, 3 1 5 Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

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PIERRE OGTAVE DETABLE, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

AUTOMATICALLY-STABILIZED SUPPORTING-PLANE FOR AERO'IE'LANES AND THE LIKE.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, PIERRE OGTAVE DETABLE, a citizen of the Republic of France, and a resident of 62 Rue Ducouedic, Paris, France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatically-Stabilized Supporting-Planes for Aeroplanes and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in means for automatically restablishing equilibrium of aeroplanes and the like and consists of a plane serving for aerial locomotion but which is likewise adapted to be employed as an aerial observatory for various meterological purposes, also for optical and wireless telegraphy, capturing atmospheric electricity and so forth.

The improved means which are broadly constituted by plane and concave surfaces of fabric rendered impermeable and of films or thin sheets of wood or metal mounted upon a rigid framework or of any other suitable material, constitutes a structure of great stability, exceedingly efficacio'us as a parachute, presenting but little resistance to a horizontal movement of translation while its total weight is very small in proportion to the supporting surface that it provides.

An example of the combination of the plane and concave surfaces of this aeroplane is given diagrammatically by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan. Fig. 3 is a 'front elevation, and Fig. i is a perspective view from the rear.

The apparatus presents the general form of a rectangular plane a, b, 0, cl (Fig. 2) formed by a plane A with a plane surface constituted by a rectangular surface a, b, e,

j by a trapezoidal surface j, e, f, 2' and of another rectangular surface i f, g, it, these three surfaces following each other in succession from the front to the rear of the apparatus. The rectangular plane a, b, c, d is completed by two triangular surfaces 5, j, is and e, f, Z terminating in rectangular bases is, i, h, (land f, Z, a, g.

The plane A is composed of canvas or the like suitably stretched while the planes j, i, h, cl, la and e, Z, c, g, f are covered with unstretched canvas and are of such a size that owing to the reaction of the air, semi-conical pockets with semi-cylindrical bases B B are Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 23, 1910.

Patented Apr. 23, 1912.

Serial No. 578,580.

formed their apices being directed toward the front of the apparatus.

Slightly above the surface a, b, e, j there is arranged another and parallel plane A precisely similar in form and dimensions and connected with the first by two oblique planes C, C symmetrical upon each side of the axis of the apparatus; these planes are fixed in parallel relation to the upper plane at a, j, and at b, e and to the lower plane obliquely at a j and at 6 6 These oblique planes C, C can be covered either wholly or partially with canvas. The upper plane A is intended for lifting or supporting the upper part of the apparatus. These oblique planes C C uniting the upper plane with the lower plane serve to maintain the transverse stability of the apparatus; it has been observed that the greater number of known apparatus do not fall along their longitudinal or transverse axes but along one of their general diagonals; it is in order to avoid this movement that the planes C C have been provided.

The purpose served by the pockets B, B will readily be understood; they act as soon as the apparatus has a tendency to become inclined laterally, the reaction of the air immediately inflates the pocket on the side to which the inclination takes place and this pocket opposes resistance to the movement while the pocket on the opposite side floats and exerts no action as a supporting surface; in these conditions the tendency is for equilibrium to be immediately and automatically reestablished.

It will be noted that the pockets B, B are semi-conical and extend from front to rear throughout the entire length of the apparatus behind the biplane A, A and terninate in a semi-cylindrical part. This arrangement serves to bring the action of the air rearward. These pockets can, however, terminate in any other shape constituting a certain resistance to the wind, such as a base of different conicity in the opposite direction or in the same direction, in order to lift the apparatus at the rear. It is likewise obvious that the apparatus need not necessarily comprise the oblique planes C, C but only the planes A and A and the lateral pockets B, B to the rear of the plane A.

It will of course be understood that the forms and dimensions and the constructional details and materials employed will be determined by practical experience, in accordance with the various applications of the principle of the planes combined for the reestablishing of equilibrium by the automatic reaction of the air upon the said planes.

WVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A supporting plane of the character described comprising a front plane and a trapezodial rearward prolongation thereof in the same plane, together with untensioned fabric on each side of the latter forming on expansion a substantially semi-conical supporting surface with its point toward the front.

2. A supporting plane of the character described comprising a front plane and a trapezoidal rearward prolongation thereof in the same plane, together with untensioned fabric on each side of the latter form-' ing on expansion a substantially semi-conical supporting surface with its point toward the front, said conical surface having a rearward prolongation of different contour.

3. A supporting plane of the character described comprising a front plane and a trapezoidal rearward prolongation thereof in the same plane, together with untensioned fabric on each side of the latter forming on expansion a substantially semi-conical supporting surface with its point toward the front, in combination with a second plane above the front plane, and oblique planes diverging from front to rear secured to said upper and lower front planes and serving to hold the upper plane in position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PIERRE OOTAVE DETABLE.

WVitnesses:

JACQUES LEJEUNE, LEON PEILLET.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O. 

